UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | A Kabalega House business structure was completely destroyed by an enigmatic fire that broke out next to the Stabex gas station on Kaiso Tonya-Butiba Road in Hoima City.
Eyewitnesses claim that the fire began at 8:00 am on Tuesday 22nd, November 2022 and that the fire department arrived on the site to try to put it out around 10:00 am.
As the fire department worked to put out the fire, the police restricted traffic around the structure for hours. Rain began to fall, which made the fire brigade’s task easier and resulted in a calmer scenario.
Good Samaritans were busy assisting the owners of the affected shops to save their belongings as the Police Fire Brigade fought the fire.
Following the fire that destroyed the building, business owners were left to count the losses of property valued in the hundreds of millions.
Several businesses, including boutiques, a fashion centre, a skills training centre, a decorating store, a betting centre, a saloon, and bars, were housed in the building, which is just across the street from the Public Primary School.
A sports betting company that was one of the building’s tenants lost a number of televisions, laptops, and other equipment.
One of the victims, Jimmy Balyesima, the owner of a centre for arts, crafts, and design, claimed to have lost more than USh100 million in the fire.
According to Balyesima, the fire also destroyed the Bunyoro Women Development Network office, which is run by Sylvia Nalumaga, the wife of the Deputy Mayor of Hoima City.
“The skills training center had several training materials such as sawing machines, all of them have been destroyed,” he said and requested the Government to support those affected.
A saloon owner, Pascal Kugonza, said that the fire destroyed much of their equipment. He said that the saloon employed more than five young people.
Another devastated entrepreneur, Jamira Kugonza, who had a pub in the now-burned structure, claimed the fire cost her hundreds of millions of shillings. She added that during the chaos, even the possessions they had just retrieved were stolen.
“We have made losses and as you see, we are entering Christmas season. I do not know what I am going to do,” she remarked and requested assistance from the government.
According to several eyewitnesses, one of the boutiques’ charcoal stoves may have started the fire.
Alex Wabwire, the Commander of Hoima City Central Police, claimed that the prompt response of the fire department allowed them to put out the fire and rescue the structure.
He stated that the Police had begun their investigations and that the cause of the fire had not yet been determined.
He praised the locals for coming out and helping the police save part of the property.
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